How to Make Spanish Sardines at Home

Homemade Spanish Sardines

Homemade Spanish sardines are another version of sardines you can make at home from scratch. Yes, they are available in your local supermarkets and grocery stores, but do you know they are very easy to make at home?  This post will show you how.

I was first introduced to Spanish sardines that are commercially sold in jars in my home country – the Philippines – and I continued to love them while in Saudi Arabia;  this time in tin cans. While I had repeatedly made homemade sardines in tomato sauce, I started making my own Spanish sardines a little more than a couple of years ago.  Around this time, gourmet tuyo has become popular along with gourmet tinapa, and many more in my home country. This was also because Filipinos had set a trend to do business with such items. I used these items as pasalubong when returning to Saudi Arabia. Ah yes, I have yet to consider putting my own Spanish sardines in jars and giving them as gifts, and it is not a bad idea after all.

History of Spanish Sardines

According to a Foodicles.com blog, “By the end of the 1800s, Brittany led the world in canned sardine sales. France actually had a monopoly on canned products at the time.”

“But Spain and Portugal soon followed and eventually took over. It has been told that in 1840, the Spaniards discovered a shipwrecked French sailboat off the coast of Galicia. It was loaded with canned sardines. After studying the cans and contents, Spain soon produced its own canned seafood in the region of La Rioja.”

Brief history, isn’t it?

Ingredients in Making Homemade Spanish Sardines

How to Make Spanish-Style Sardines from Home

Homemade Spanish-style sardines can easily be cooked using a pressure cooker or a slow cooker. Both will require medium-low heat and at least an hour. The recipe below can be followed to the letter whether you are using a pressure cooker or a slow cooker.  It is the type of fish that might differ in cooking time.

If you prefer to use a regular cooking pot, make sure that you do not open the lid until after an hour. The continuous heat would make sure that all the fish are cooked evenly as pressure cooking does. One tip: when you see that all the excess water has evaporated, the dish is already perfect!

How to Serve Homemade Spanish Sardines

Spanish sardines are well served hot or cold. It can even be served straight from the fridge after a couple of days of cooking: on top of hot steamed rice, the sardines defrost! Really yummy!

I mix an equal amount of fish sauce and fresh lemon juice with sliced fresh red chili pepper on the side. I just prefer almost everything spicy, so if I do not have them spicy at all, I complement them with spicy chili along with my condiment of choice (vinegar or fish sauce). A matter of taste, I know. Try it once, though.

This dish is also good with bread or any fried rice.

One Filipino way to serve it is as what is called  “pulutan.” With that, it is best served with vinegar and minced garlic.

Serving them with minced fresh parsley is another popular option. Do not forget the lemon zest.

How to Store Homemade Spanish Sardines

This dish can be frozen in air-tight containers or plastic bags for up to six months.  When you are ready to serve them, simply thaw them out overnight in the fridge or defrost them in the microwave.

Conclusion

Spanish-style sardines are an easy-to-prepare seafood meal that is packed with flavors and nutrition. Making them from scratch is not just economical but also brings you closer to your roots as it takes you back centuries ago when canned products were first introduced. With just a few ingredients, you can create a delicious dish that is sure to impress your family and friends.

How to Make Spanish Sardines at Home

• Author: Magida
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
• Category: Main dish
• Method: cooking

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Description

Homemade Spanish sardines you can make at home from scratch with minimal ingredients that are surely already in your pantry. So yummy, you might ditch buying the commercial version. And this is more economical as well.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

1 kg fresh sardine or mackerel fish, gutted and cleaned

4 garlic cloves, sliced

1 medium-sized carrot, cut into florets or flower shapes

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or dried chilis (optional)

3 bay leaves

8–10 green olives

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns

juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup water

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Instructions

1. Drain fish using or dry using paper towels after they are gutted and cleaned.
2. Arrange the fish in a pressure cooker (or slow cooker). Cover the fish with the rest of the ingredients pouring water, olive oil, and lemon juice last.
3. Cover the pot (cooker), and let boil over medium heat. Then lower to medium-low heat and leave for 45 minutes to an hour.
4. Serve hot or cold.

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Keywords: homemade Spanish sardines, Spanish-style sardines, sardines from home